thedrifter
12-13-08, 06:55 AM
Young Marines changes a life
Aaron Blevins
ahillenb@reportert.com
December 11, 2008
MARTINSVILLE
A Martinsville family is enjoying the changes the Central Indiana Young Marines made to its oldest child, who graduated from boot camp with rank on Nov. 20.
AJ Frye didn’t sign up for the program because of bad behavior like some of the children on daytime talk shows. He doesn’t have immediate family members who are veterans. The thirteen-year-old East Middle School student just digs the Marines.
“It’s still a mystery where the initial yearning came from,” his mother, Jeanne Szymczak, said Monday.
What’s crystal clear is how the Young Marines program has changed Frye. His hair is cut, he is more physically fit and he has a newfound respect for those who protect and serve.
“He stands a little taller,” Szymczak said, observing her oldest son. “He’s a little more proud of himself, but he’s also humble.”
Frye said his grades have also been affected. Szymczak said her son had been a “solid B” before making the A honor roll last trimester.
“Yea, he’s way nicer,” Frye’s little sister, Mickey Szymczak, said. “I see him helping out more, and I really look up to him.”
Most importantly for Szymczak, she is not as worried about Frye being a “follower” or being subject to peer pressure.
“Now I feel he’s got more leadership qualities,” she said, adding that Frye is the only person in his group of friends that has had his hair cut off.
The thirteen-week program is for ages eight through 18 and is held on Thursdays at the Hesslar Naval Armory at 3010 White River Parkway in Indianapolis.
Szymczak said the organization is a non-profit and is compiled mostly of Marines. Frye said they teach recruits United States Marine Corps history, traditions and customs.
“Each time you go, you do some exercises and then you practice marching movements,” he said. “It’s awesome.”
To graduate, recruits must complete a physical fitness test and a written test about the Marines and general history, Frye said. Of the 25 new recruits the program accepted in July, 22 showed up the first night and 18 graduated, he said.
Frye said recruits, who become Young Marines upon graduation from boot camp, are expected to practice good hygiene, wear proper attire and maintain good grades. Cadets can only miss three days of boot camp before being booted, he said.
The graduation ceremony “was really cool, really formal,” Szymczak’s husband, Kenny, said. He said six or seven Marines were in attendance and that one even played the bagpipes.
Frye was surprised during the ceremony when he was honored as having one of the top three scores on his final exam. This allowed him to graduate with rank, he said.
Frye said he is also more conscious of his local veterans now. He said the program officers gave each recruit certificates to give to local veterans during the week of Veteran’s Day that thanked them for their service.
He saved one to give to his step-grandfather on the night of his graduation, he said.
Szymczak also took Frye out of school on the day that Bravo Co. came home to Martinsville. The family made signs and followed the deployed soldiers to the National Guard Armory in Martinsville.
“That was awesome,” Frye said.
Frye’s uncle, Brad Wall, also took him to the retiring of the flags with American Legion Post 230. Wall, who is in the Indiana Guard Reserve and is involved in Civil Air Patrol, had been chauffering Frye to his weekly meetings at the naval armory.
Young Marines Executive Officer Jared McKee said instilling a respect of veterans into the minds of recruits is a key goal of the program. He said people, especially young people, should support their troops regardless of their politics.
Deployed soldiers “don’t really get a choice in the matter,” he said.
He said the program also aims to help recruits grow through self-discipline. He said a big part of the program is having older children looking up to younger children through the chain of command.
“And it gives them an understand of rank responsibility and a general understanding of how life is,” McKee said, adding that the organization also focuses on drug demand reduction.
Frye is scheduled for another dose of the Young Marines in February. While he doesn’t know exactly what will happen, he is looking forward to it.
Ellie
Aaron Blevins
ahillenb@reportert.com
December 11, 2008
MARTINSVILLE
A Martinsville family is enjoying the changes the Central Indiana Young Marines made to its oldest child, who graduated from boot camp with rank on Nov. 20.
AJ Frye didn’t sign up for the program because of bad behavior like some of the children on daytime talk shows. He doesn’t have immediate family members who are veterans. The thirteen-year-old East Middle School student just digs the Marines.
“It’s still a mystery where the initial yearning came from,” his mother, Jeanne Szymczak, said Monday.
What’s crystal clear is how the Young Marines program has changed Frye. His hair is cut, he is more physically fit and he has a newfound respect for those who protect and serve.
“He stands a little taller,” Szymczak said, observing her oldest son. “He’s a little more proud of himself, but he’s also humble.”
Frye said his grades have also been affected. Szymczak said her son had been a “solid B” before making the A honor roll last trimester.
“Yea, he’s way nicer,” Frye’s little sister, Mickey Szymczak, said. “I see him helping out more, and I really look up to him.”
Most importantly for Szymczak, she is not as worried about Frye being a “follower” or being subject to peer pressure.
“Now I feel he’s got more leadership qualities,” she said, adding that Frye is the only person in his group of friends that has had his hair cut off.
The thirteen-week program is for ages eight through 18 and is held on Thursdays at the Hesslar Naval Armory at 3010 White River Parkway in Indianapolis.
Szymczak said the organization is a non-profit and is compiled mostly of Marines. Frye said they teach recruits United States Marine Corps history, traditions and customs.
“Each time you go, you do some exercises and then you practice marching movements,” he said. “It’s awesome.”
To graduate, recruits must complete a physical fitness test and a written test about the Marines and general history, Frye said. Of the 25 new recruits the program accepted in July, 22 showed up the first night and 18 graduated, he said.
Frye said recruits, who become Young Marines upon graduation from boot camp, are expected to practice good hygiene, wear proper attire and maintain good grades. Cadets can only miss three days of boot camp before being booted, he said.
The graduation ceremony “was really cool, really formal,” Szymczak’s husband, Kenny, said. He said six or seven Marines were in attendance and that one even played the bagpipes.
Frye was surprised during the ceremony when he was honored as having one of the top three scores on his final exam. This allowed him to graduate with rank, he said.
Frye said he is also more conscious of his local veterans now. He said the program officers gave each recruit certificates to give to local veterans during the week of Veteran’s Day that thanked them for their service.
He saved one to give to his step-grandfather on the night of his graduation, he said.
Szymczak also took Frye out of school on the day that Bravo Co. came home to Martinsville. The family made signs and followed the deployed soldiers to the National Guard Armory in Martinsville.
“That was awesome,” Frye said.
Frye’s uncle, Brad Wall, also took him to the retiring of the flags with American Legion Post 230. Wall, who is in the Indiana Guard Reserve and is involved in Civil Air Patrol, had been chauffering Frye to his weekly meetings at the naval armory.
Young Marines Executive Officer Jared McKee said instilling a respect of veterans into the minds of recruits is a key goal of the program. He said people, especially young people, should support their troops regardless of their politics.
Deployed soldiers “don’t really get a choice in the matter,” he said.
He said the program also aims to help recruits grow through self-discipline. He said a big part of the program is having older children looking up to younger children through the chain of command.
“And it gives them an understand of rank responsibility and a general understanding of how life is,” McKee said, adding that the organization also focuses on drug demand reduction.
Frye is scheduled for another dose of the Young Marines in February. While he doesn’t know exactly what will happen, he is looking forward to it.
Ellie